Newspaper Page Text

GAS
ATTACK
Let
the
Punishment
Fit
the
Crime!
“PLEASE,
OUIJA,
TELL
ME.”
Hitherto
the
fellows
had
contented
them­
selves
with
ordinary
diversions,
each
whil­
ing
away
his
spare
moments—-which
are
spare,
indeed,
in
the
army—in
some
way
best
suited
to
his
own
particular
style
or
temperament.
No
one
means
of
recreation
appealed
to
all.
Our
methods
of
seeking
amusement
were
legion.
A
great
many
among
us
viewed
baseballing
and
boxing
as
the
most
sensi­
ble
and
satisfying
of
pastimes;
others,
blessed
with
a
certain
elasticity
of
funds,
chose
the
more
confining
entertainment
de­
rived
from
cards
or
dice;
others
were
hap­
pier
going
to
the
“Big
Tent,”
the
Y.
M.
€.
A.,
or
wherever
Mary
Bickford,
Douglas
Fairbanks
or
W.
S.
Hart
might
be
billed;
and
still
others,
many
others,
seemed
con­
tent
w
ith
letter
w
riting
or
checkers
or
chess
or
dominoes
or
reading.
Then
came
the
day
when
Herb
Winslow,
one-time
photoplay
director
and
son
of
a
well-known
playwright,
introduced
to
the
boys
the
strange
little
toy
that
has
had
’em
all
guessing,
arguing
and
wondering
ever
since.
They
buzz
about
it
like
Broadway
buzzes
about
each
successive
new
and
dar­
ing
ballet.
Herb
had
imported
a
ouija
board!
Guija
wasn't
out
of
the
mails
five
min­
utes
ere
two
husky
.
soldiers,
nervously
eager
and
expectant,
sat
opposite
each
other
with
the
question-answering
$1.50
oracle
across
their
knees.
Grouped
round
behind
them
were
a
dozen
others,
grinning
or
frowning
in
a
“Show
me”
attitude.
Then
one
of
the
players
popped
the
first
question,
proving
then
and
there
the
wisdom
of
the
poet
who
rhymed
something
about
Spring
and
a
young
marks
fancy.
The
soldier
won­
dered
if
the
young
lady
of
his
dreams
loved
hi
m.
“Y-e-s,”
the
ouija
spelled
out.
The
sol­
dier
loosed
a
howl
of
joy.
The
onlookers
fidgeted.
“W
hat’s
her
name,
Ouija?”
the
soldier
.asked.
“R-o-s-a-l-i-n-cl,”
said
the
ouija,
and
it
was
right.
“Will
we
go
to
France,
Ouija?”
said
the
soldier.
“Y-e-s,”
said
the
ouija.
“When
will
we
go
to
France,
O
uija?”
“
-----
-
—
•—
------
—
The
tiny
three-legged
table
spun
over
the
board
in
a
way
that
made
those
doughboys
gape,
and
it
spelled
out
its
answer
without
the
slightest
hesita­
tion.
The
censor
won’t
let
us
disclose
the
elate
given,
but
cheer
up:
you
won’t
grow
.grey
here.
Since
that
first
night
ouija
has
had
but
little
rest.
It
has
alternately
delighted,
surprised,
frightened
and
disappointed
every
member
of
the
company,
and
a
num­
ber
of
fellows
drawn
from
other
companies,
as
well.
It
has
breathed
of
romance,
mar­
riage
and
heroism
one
minute
and
of
death,
injury
and
forlorn
heart
hopes
the
next
minute.
“That
thing
has
got
the
dope,”
says
one
group.
“If
there
ain’t
anything
to
it
how-
inell
do
you
explain
this
*
*
*
and
*
*
*
that
*
*
*
?
“Lotta
hooey,”
says
another
crowd—
“damn
fake!”
“Subconscious
mind’s
influence,
that’s
all,”
argues
a
third
faction.
But
the
fact
rem
ains:
No
matter
what
the
men
think,
as
individuals
about
this
queer
device,
you’ll
see
all
of
’em
bent
over
it
a
t
one
time
or
another,
asking
it
every­
thing,
from
the
name
of
the
parson
who
will
do
the
nuptial
knotting,
down
to
the
whereabouts
of
a
lost
sock.
It’s
a
psychologist’s
job
to
explain
why
soldiers
should
take
so
to
such
an
odd
method
of
amusing
themselves—or,
if
they
so
regard
it
enlightening
themselves.
Maybe
soldiers,
as
a
class,
have
some
of
the
superstition
usually
found
among
act­
ors,
gamblers,
Southern
darMes
and
others.
Maybe
it’s
because
they
are
so
darn
hard-
put
sometimes
to
find
an
agreeable
way
of
making
up
for
the
things
they
left
behind
them.
At
any
rate,
if
you
are
curious,
corne
over
to
'
L
Company’s
apartments
sometime—
anytime—and
you’ll
see
square-toed
men
o’
war,
with
none
of
the
earmarks
of
spook-
believers,
beseeching
a
small,
square
board
to
help
’em
peer
into
the
future.
CORP.
HARRY
T.
MITCHELL.

Newspaper Page Text

GAS ATTACK Let the Punishment Fit the Crime! “PLEASE, OUIJA, TELL ME.” Hitherto the fellows had contented them­ selves with ordinary diversions, each whil­ ing away his spare moments—-which are spare, indeed, in the army—in some way best suited to his own particular style or temperament. No one means of recreation appealed to all. Our methods of seeking amusement were legion. A great many among us viewed baseballing and boxing as the most sensi­ ble and satisfying of pastimes; others, blessed with a certain elasticity of funds, chose the more confining entertainment de­ rived from cards or dice; others were hap­ pier going to the “Big Tent,” the Y. M. €. A., or wherever Mary Bickford, Douglas Fairbanks or W. S. Hart might be billed; and still others, many others, seemed con­ tent w ith letter w riting or checkers or chess or dominoes or reading. Then came the day when Herb Winslow, one-time photoplay director and son of a well-known playwright, introduced to the boys the strange little toy that has had ’em all guessing, arguing and wondering ever since. They buzz about it like Broadway buzzes about each successive new and dar­ ing ballet. Herb had imported a ouija board! Guija wasn't out of the mails five min­ utes ere two husky . soldiers, nervously eager and expectant, sat opposite each other with the question-answering $1.50 oracle across their knees. Grouped round behind them were a dozen others, grinning or frowning in a “Show me” attitude. Then one of the players popped the first question, proving then and there the wisdom of the poet who rhymed something about Spring and a young marks fancy. The soldier won­ dered if the young lady of his dreams loved hi m. “Y-e-s,” the ouija spelled out. The sol­ dier loosed a howl of joy. The onlookers fidgeted. “W hat’s her name, Ouija?” the soldier .asked. “R-o-s-a-l-i-n-cl,” said the ouija, and it was right. “Will we go to France, Ouija?” said the soldier. “Y-e-s,” said the ouija. “When will we go to France, O uija?” “ ----- - — •— ------ — The tiny three-legged table spun over the board in a way that made those doughboys gape, and it spelled out its answer without the slightest hesita­ tion. The censor won’t let us disclose the elate given, but cheer up: you won’t grow .grey here. Since that first night ouija has had but little rest. It has alternately delighted, surprised, frightened and disappointed every member of the company, and a num­ ber of fellows drawn from other companies, as well. It has breathed of romance, mar­ riage and heroism one minute and of death, injury and forlorn heart hopes the next minute. “That thing has got the dope,” says one group. “If there ain’t anything to it how- inell do you explain this * * * and * * * that * * * ? “Lotta hooey,” says another crowd— “damn fake!” “Subconscious mind’s influence, that’s all,” argues a third faction. But the fact rem ains: No matter what the men think, as individuals about this queer device, you’ll see all of ’em bent over it a t one time or another, asking it every­ thing, from the name of the parson who will do the nuptial knotting, down to the whereabouts of a lost sock. It’s a psychologist’s job to explain why soldiers should take so to such an odd method of amusing themselves—or, if they so regard it enlightening themselves. Maybe soldiers, as a class, have some of the superstition usually found among act­ ors, gamblers, Southern darMes and others. Maybe it’s because they are so darn hard- put sometimes to find an agreeable way of making up for the things they left behind them. At any rate, if you are curious, corne over to ' L Company’s apartments sometime— anytime—and you’ll see square-toed men o’ war, with none of the earmarks of spook- believers, beseeching a small, square board to help ’em peer into the future. CORP. HARRY T. MITCHELL.